‎1. FC Köln v Arsenal. Great first half. My fantasy favourites tournament would feature Arsenal, NY Red Bulls, AS Roma and 1. FC Köln. Today's result was perfect but don't know what to expect or hope for next week when NY face the Gunners.

Tuesday, July 12, 2011

NY soccer fans haven't enjoyed a championship since 1982. All the more reason to kick the closest object in disgust at yet another US Open Cup departure. Out 4-0 in the Windy City is unacceptable. Knowing now that Richmond beat KC and that we would have been home next match August 30th and a chance at the October 4th Final makes this infuriating. The oldest domestic competition is worth our best players and for management not to understand this is bewildering and appalling.

Monday, July 11, 2011

Perhaps no other loss hurts me more than those at home v DC. Tensions with someone close who is somewhat of a DC fan reaching a fever pitch through the week (his support of that club has since 1996 been a chasm between us, one he may never have understood), this match took on epic emotional proportions for me. They couldn't beat us this time. We altered family plans over our anniversary weekend to watch the Bulls stomp the Scum. DC couldn't win. They just couldn't. But they did, with DeRo barely out of his Bulls and barely into his Scum shirt, the way the ball hit the post and bounced in, just below me in the NorthBank, was gutting. 0-1 this year. 0-0 the last. And the last match against them at the Swamp? Wish I could forget that pain - I've repressed the scoreline but not the sense of despair over that loss.

We may go on to win the MLS Cup this year. We should. We have the best player and the best team in the league. But this Saturday's loss will linger. "The wounds of Spirit heal and leave no scars behind." I guess Hegel never kicked a ball.

Sunday, July 10, 2011

Today's USA-Brasil match has to be one of the most dramatic and remarkable matches in sport history!

The remarkable displays of technical brilliance and stamina (mental and physical), the blown calls and blown non-calls, the shifts of momentum, the emergence of characterization (heroes and villains), the suspense, an energized and engaged audience affecting the action, the passionate excess of sporting intensity made this one of the greatest events I've ever witnessed.